Sleeping In Hostels: An Honest Guide
Hostels. Something almost entirely foreign to the United States, but fairly common everywhere else. If you have never had a shared dorm in university or are unfamiliar with shared living spaces, you’re in for a treat. Many people are weary at first, but then grow to love them for several reasons. Personally, I love hostels because you get to socialize with people from all over the world and build connections very quickly. Keep reading for a transparent and honest explanation of what it’s like staying in hostels, and find four PRO Tips from someone who has stayed in over fifteen around Europe!
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Table of Contents
1. Priorities
Price, location, and amenities. The three greatest determining factors for someone booking a hostel. Prices can vary greatly, sometimes even within a day, based on need and availability. Generally speaking, you can find hostels in Europe as low as 12€ / $13 a night up to 50€ / $53 a night, for a shared room. Alternatively, most hostels will have private rooms, usually for a cheaper price than a hotel. If you are traveling with someone, for example, you might prefer this to a room with 5-15 other people. If price matters to you, you can filter options on any platform by price. Location is another huge determining factor, especially in certain cities. Sometimes, there are zones or districts of a city that are better to stay in than others, for example. Many platforms will post “distance to city center” for you to gauge how far away it is from everything. Do your research about the city to find out which areas are the best or safest to be in. Lastly, amenities can make or break the deal. Some amenities that you might consider or filter by are: wi-fi and internet connection speeds, air-conditioning units, 24-hour reception and check-in, luggage storage, free breakfast, shared kitchen, bicycle rental, laundry facilities, 24-hour security, and food and drink options. Personally, I prefer a hostel that advertises good wi-fi and internet access, 24-hour security, luggage storage, and free walking tours or pub crawls. Luggage storage is because check-out is usually 10-11 am, and I might not leave the city until later in the evening and don’t want to carry around my bags while exploring during the day. I have friends who prioritize free breakfast though, because it helps with the cost of food while traveling. It simply depends on your priorities- which might shift the more you travel.
Another priority for me if available, is kitchens to cook!
2. Expectations
It is important to have the right expectations before your first hostel experience. If you have never stayed in one, they are very different from what you are probably used to.
Starting With Booking: One of the most typical platforms used by backpackers is Hostelworld. With a variety of options and filters, this is a great tool for easy scanning and booking. If you are looking for even more deals, you can pay for a Hostelpass subscription, which gives you access to 10-20% discounts on certain hostels. Additionally, Hotels.com and Booking.com will offer hostel options, but typically at higher prices. Once you book the hostel, you should get a confirmation email and perhaps a follow-up with pre-check-in items. Some hostels allow you to submit some information ahead of time to quicken the process once you arrive.
Check-In: When you get to the hostel, you will likely be asked for a personal identification card or passport and a credit card. Even if you have already paid online, fully or partially, many hostels prefer to have a card on hold for any damages or lost keys. You will be given your room key, sometimes with a locker key and door code, and the wi-fi password. Smaller hostels will show you to your room, explaining where everything is along the way. Larger hostels simply give you verbal directions and expect you to figure it out.
Shared Dorms: Most hostels offer 6-8 bed dorms, 16-20 bed dorms, and private rooms, with mixed, female, and male options. Depending on what you booked, you will usually find bunk beds, a place under the bed or lockers for your belongings, and possibly a separate locker for your valuables. Some dorms will have bathrooms in the rooms, and others will have shared bathrooms for multiple dorm rooms. No one likes to talk about it, but PRO Tip: ask for a top bunk if possible to minimize the likelihood of having night friends in your bed…
Shared Bathrooms: It’s common etiquette to take as little time as possible in the bathrooms. For girls, this means fixing your hair and make-up in the room or hallway mirrors, if that’s something you do. Another PRO Tip is to have shower shoes. Not all showers are made equal or cleaned as frequently as you’d like, so protect your feet (especially if you have any cuts or open wounds) and bring some disposable or rubber sandals for the shower. Some hostels will have towels for rent, but it is best if you travel with a microfiber towel for showering. I use the Sea to Summit Portable Pocket Towel and absolutely love it. I carry a Nudi Wear towel as well as my beach towel so that I can shower with a clean towel after a beach day. Usually, showers will be warmest in the morning as well, so try to plan your showers according to how much you prefer warm water. The water pressure might not be what you’re used to at home, but all you need is a little water and soap, and you’ll be fine.
Shared Kitchens: Kitchens in hostels can range from extensive appliances and counter space to a mini-fridge and movable one-eye stove. You take what you can get. This might determine how much you cook or eat out at a place, so bear that in mind. Unlike what you might do at home, please wash your pots, pans, and dishes immediately after cooking and eating. Certain times of the evening will have many people waiting to cook, so be courteous. If there is a large enough fridge to keep groceries, keep the grocery bag and write your name, room number, and check-out date on the bag- or whatever the instructions say if otherwise. But try to keep your food together and in a marked bag to minimize the likelihood of someone using it or throwing it out. Another PRO Tip: don’t use electric water kettles. If you look inside, there will often be a limescale build-up, and it’s not the safest thing to drink. If you want to make a hot tea or soup, boil water in a pot on the stove.
Shared Common Rooms: One of my personal favorite reasons to stay in hostels- the common area. Living rooms, lounges, patios, whatever it is, it’s a place for everyone in the hostel to hang out. Often with TVs, card games, books, and couches. One of the most significant advantages of traveling is the people you meet, and it can’t get any easier than sharing a common space with fellow travelers. The conversations you will have on those couches, rivalries you have playing card games, and shared laughs while watching movies are incredible. Usually, hostel staff will ask that the common room be quiet between 10/11 pm to 8/10 am, but you can usually stay in the area if you’re quiet during the night. Seriously, this is one of the greatest concepts of hostels.
Three-tier bunk beds with no privacy in a hostel dorm.
3. Realities
While I am not trying to scare you away from hostels, I do hope to give you a realistic view and advice on what it’s truly like. Aside from the above-mentioned pieces, you can expect a number of the following:
Noisy Neighbors: snoring, talking on speaker, rustling through bags in the middle of the night, having sex (yes, seriously), etc.
Lowered Cleanliness: strangers with drastically different hygiene practices are sharing living accommodations, and there’s not enough staff to keep it clean 24/7
Inconsistent Temperatures: air-co is not very common in Europe, especially in hostels, so you might need to bundle up or strip down to be comfortable
Lasting Friendships: the best part of making quick friends is making plans to meet up and travel together later
Messy dorm room with questionable cleanliness.
Takeaways
Hostels can be amazing, fun, affordable places, or they can be a dirty, loud, and sketchy experience. It all depends on the research you do. Read the reviews (some hostels pay for fake ones, so look for repeated terms and phrases), do research on the area, and check out the amenities. Platforms like Hostelworld also allow you to see who else has been there or is going and even join group chats to meet up and hang out with those people. Once you have your priorities set and book a hostel, know what to expect, and be prepared for some realities that will make you a more flexible and patient person. Staying in hostels can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding and an amazing experience. One last PRO Tip: I found that the smaller hostels are often more fun and social than the larger ones! So, do your research, use this guide, and prepare for the fun. If you find any of this useful, let me know! If you have questions, comments, or concerns, share them! My goal is for this to be a platform for like-minded travelers to share and help others. If you follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, you will find that’s the easiest place to interact with a community of wanderers. On my YouTube channel, I will share tips, tricks, and lessons learned from each destination I go to, and my podcast will have similar content in a different format. I hope that you find this information helpful and use it as a starting point for your own wonderful, magical adventures! Happy wandering.
No Gatekeeping About Hostels